#cajuncajole

Gambit has been my favorite since I saw him in one of my cousin's comics way back in 1990. I couldn't tell you which one it was, but being Cajun, I was automatically drawn to him and he became my favorite because we shared that same history. I got into cosplay in the fall of 2013 and decided I wanted to cosplay Gambit that following year, because he was my favorite character of all time, so it only made sense to do so. What do you think makes Gambit's uniform special? It's so iconic! Especially if you're cosplaying his traditional 90s uniform. Everyone recognizes it and knows it's Gambit. Not only from the bright pinkish chest plate and head gear, but his awesome jacket and playing cards! While you were developing or constructing your costume, were there any big surprises? Any unexpected discovery about the design or about Gambit himself that you weren't expecting? Everything has to be modified. That's just how it is. Comic book designs are NOT realistic. I think the biggest thing was the head gear. There was NO way that thing was going to stay in place on my cheeks, so my first run looked silly. I had to use spirit gum and still do! Another thing is the chest plate makes it IMPOSSIBLE to sit . . . So, that is still becoming a thorn in my side. My most recent cosplay is better, but could still be modified so I can sit more comfortably. Also, the jacket is EXTREMELY difficult to swing a staff around in. I actually practice the staff and it's quite challenging to do so wearing a trench coat / duster. Another thing that looks great in comics but isn't really realistic. It can be done, but not as graceful as Gambit, lol.

Of all of Gambit's costumes over the years in canon, which is your favorite? Ugh, that's a tough one! If I HAD to choose, I'd go with his modern one. It's not as flashy as his original suit and the colors are dulled down, but that familiarity is still there. Of all your costumes, which is your favorite? I would have to go with my most recent one, which is his modern one. I've actually modified it to where the leg straps make sense and added pouches. Also—the cats! I have 3 plushie cats that go with the cosplay.

(Below are four examples of Riley’s art)

Can you describe a bit of the process that goes into making your favorite of these costumes? The biggest thing is narrowing down exactly which uniform I want to do. Then, I decide on how difficult it'll be to make it. I actually get help from friends who know foam better than I do, so they've been a HUGE help. I try to give myself a reasonable amount of time before a convention so I have a chance to test everything out and see if it works. My first cosplay, I spent $500+ in the span of a year just putting it all together. I made the chest piece out of a paintball armored shirt and painted it. The hardest thing was finding the right jacket. Luckily, I've found some cheap ones off of Etsy and eBay, but my most 2 recent jackets were in the $100 range. I save up for these things, because who can just drop that kinda money? One costume that didn't go anywhere was All New X-Factor. I have the jacket, but everything else fell through.

How have other fans (or strangers) responded to seeing you in costume? People have responded well! They know who I am and they absolutely LOVED the cats. I've done several photo shoots with other X-Men fans and it's been a complete blast! Gambit fans appreciated the cats and wanted to hold them for pictures. It's great when people understand your cosplay down to the props!

To hear Riley’s dulcet tones, listen to Bon Temps!, a terrific podcast featuring Riley and other fans, about Romy and the fandom, which you may support by donating to the site or by PayPaling [email protected].